▲ Former Jeonbuk Provincial Council Member Park Yong-geun
A former provincial council member of the Democratic Party who was expelled from the party over allegations of pressuring public officials into a business project worth around 3 billion won has lost the appeal in a lawsuit seeking to nullify the disciplinary action.
The 27-3 Civil Division of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Lee Yong-ho, Park Soon-young, and Jung Chong-ryong) ruled against the plaintiff in the lawsuit filed last month by former Jeonbuk Provincial Council Member Park Yong-geun against the Democratic Party, seeking to confirm the invalidity of the disciplinary resolution.
Park faced allegations that he called provincial government officials to his office and pressured them in front of business stakeholders, warning that if they failed to adopt a power-saving system (FECO) requiring a project budget of approximately 3 billion won, he would demand data submissions and cut their budget.
In April 2025, the Jeonbuk Provincial Party Ethics Tribunal of the Democratic Party resolved to expel Park.
Park subsequently requested a retrial, but it was dismissed by the central party's ethics tribunal.
Park filed a lawsuit to confirm the invalidity of the disciplinary action, claiming that it was legitimate legislative activity aimed at reducing budgets and resolving civil complaints.
He also argued that the expulsion penalty was excessively severe compared to other disciplinary grounds such as drunk driving and assault.
However, the first trial ruled against the plaintiff, acknowledging that Park had called public officials to his office and mentioned budget cuts and data submission demands, and that these actions could not be regarded as legitimate legislative activities.
The appellate court also judged the first-instance ruling to be justified, citing consistent statements from the public officials who were present at the scene at the time.
The second trial stated, "While the disciplinary cases claimed by the plaintiff are merely personal deviations, the plaintiff's misconduct involved attempting to intervene in private interests by utilizing public authority granted to local councils, such as budget deliberation rights and administrative audit authority," noting a fundamental difference in nature.
(Photo provided by Jeonbuk Provincial Council, Yonhap News)
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